Roma 1-2 Sampdoria: awful second half display may cost Roma the title

April 26, 2010

A shock result if you didn’t see the game – and even more of a shock result if you did. Roma were magnificent in the first half, but somehow let their lead slip, as Giampaolo Pazzini converted two left-wing crosses to hand Roma their first defeat in 26 league games.

After last weekend’s failed experiment with a 4-3-3 shape, Claudio Ranieri reverted to his customary lopsided 4-2-3-1 shape, with Luca Toni dropped at the expense of Jeremy Menez, who played on the right. Mirko Vucinic stayed wide-left, with Francesco Totti as a false nine.

Sampdoria also played their usual shape – a 4-4-2, 4-2-2-2 or even 4-2-3-1 if you like – Cassano played as a second striker rather than a trequartista, the two central midfielders sat very deep in front of the back four, and two out-and-out wingers tried to get crosses in for Pazzini.

Roma were superb in the first half – their passing was immaculate, their movement off-the-ball confused Sampdoria’s backline, Vucinic was a constant threat cutting in from the left, and David Pizarro had another excellent game in the centre of midfield. They went ahead inside the opening quarter of an hour – Vucinic cutting the ball back for Totti to sweep into the far post.

Roma’s attacks almost always came down their left-hand side. John Arne Riise was typically charging up and down the left flank, forcing Franco Semioli into a purely defensive role for most of the first half. It is vital that Riise gets forward for Roma’s formation to work properly – with Vucinic, the closest thing to an out-and-out striker in this XI, on the left, Riise moving forward on the overlap give Vucinic license to cut inside, as he did on numerous times to great effect – although his final ball was often poor, and he became involved in a confrtontation with Simone Perrotta following one instance of him wasting a good chance. The Roma full-backs have a good understanding, however – wary of leaving 2 v v 2 at the back, only one of Riise and Marco Cassetti got forward at any one moment.

Sampdoria struggled for possession because there was simply no pressure upon Roma’s two central midfielders. Cassano was playing alongside Pazzini rather than dropping into a deeper role, and Angelo Palombo and Andrea Poli sat deep in front of their own defence, and so both Daniele de Rossi and David Pizarro had all the time in the world to knock passes towards the attacking players, and Sampdoria struggled with Perrotta and de Rossi’s late runs into the box.

Samp also played a surprisingly high offside line – this played into the hands of Vucinic, as Roma continually knocked the ball in behind Luciano Zauri for him to chase – against teams playing without a traditional striker, playing a deep line is often more effective, to prevent midfield runners exploiting the space left when the centre-backs follow the false nine.

The away side tended to play on the counter, getting the ball quickly to Franco Semioli and Stefano Guberti and trying to get crosses in, and in fairness to Sampdoria, they often got five players in and around the box on their rare forays forward.

In the second half, Roma suddenly looked out-of-sorts. Their quick passing had been replaced by a more sluggish, direct approach which handed possession back to Sampdoria quickly. Pizarro continued playing an intelligent game, but Perrotta kept giving the ball away, and the defenders’ passing was too long.

Sampdoria equalised when Pazzini headed home an Antonio Cassano cross from the left, and Roma took off Perrotta for Luca Toni. Unfortunately this merely seemed to increase their passing problems – there was more of an incentive to hit the ball long, and although Toni was a nuisance, Samp coped reasonably well with his aerial threat, especially when compared with Roma’s slick passing in the first half.

Ranieri went for broke, taking off Cassetti, the right-back, and replacing him with Rodrigo Taddei, a right-winger by trade. They had to go for the win, and the change was both logical and understandable – but ultimately it cost Roma the second Sampdoria goal. Taddei was far too forward and left Daniele Mannini unmarked, who crossed for Pazzini’s second. This shows show how high up the pitch Taddei was, leaving the eventual assister free:

It’s tough on Ranieri, but the substitution at right-back was the reason they eventually lost the game, although it was a gamble he had to take.

that probably ends Roma’s hopes of the title. I just think Juan could’ve done a better job at covering Pazzini rather than leaving it to Riise.

João Cunha on April 27, 2010 at 10:52 am

ZM,

There will be an huge F.C.Porto-Benfica, next sunday, on Estádio do Dragão. It could be the title match for Benfica and I think that it would be a major opportunity for you to analyse the game.

The best player in Portuguese League this year, Porto’s striker Falcão, doesn’t play because he saw the 5th yellow card last fixture, but Porto will play with argentinan Farias in the initial eleven. There are other players injured in Porto, like Varela, Mariano González, Rúben Micael or even Hélton and Rodriguez (in doubt) but it promises to be a great match.

I’m happy for that, really happy. But please be aware that Porto side is very weakened at the moment because of the injuries and the sanctions, specially Rúben Micael, Varela and Falcão!

Panenka on April 26, 2010 at 4:04 pm

The substitutions were certainly the key moments of the game. It’s interesting that this time last week Ranieri was getting the plaudits for his brave double switch at half time against Lazio, switches that had he not made may have made this game an irrelevance, whereas this week this week his changes are under fire. The life of the tinkerman!

He was vehemently defending his decisions post-match, but I think he knew deep down he messed up – as I don’t actually think the draw would’ve been as bad as made out. I still think Inter will drop points especially if they progress in the Champions league.

Storari was excellent last night. Very very good off his line.

Joe on April 26, 2010 at 4:09 pm

Once Samp tied, Roma was losing
the real game, and Samp knew that.
They were able to close shop,
and play for the counter.

Not sure what else Ranieri could have
done. Any thoughts?

Anonymous on April 26, 2010 at 4:24 pm

@Ariez – I agree but It was definitely a plan by Sampdoria and they executed it well; to get Cassano running at Cassetti and for Pazzini to ghost in between Juan and Riise or to concentrate on moving into Riise’s zone. The first goal is a good example. Cassano doesn’t even look up before crossing (it was a delightful cross) knowing full well that Pazzini would be moving towards the back post. Riise was caught napping a bit. Riise says that his defending has improved a lot since coming to Italy but he still has lapses of concentration and is not overly aware to runners

I think in the second goal Juan looks to pick up Testardi coming in but could’ve have looked to have got into the space between Burdisso/Maninni and Pazzini/Riise to make the cross more difficult for Mannini…
The real culprit is Taddei however being caught so far out of position though as ZM says

@Jason – Pretty much. They replaced two players at halftime but kept the same shape – they only had three shots on targt in the game, two of which went in.

Roma’s passing ability just seemed to disappear.

jensen on April 26, 2010 at 9:59 pm

ZM – what about Del Neri’s half time subs? Tissone for Poli and Mannini for Guberti. I thought Tissone got to grips with the Roma midfield much better than Poli managed and Mannini provided a better more consistent outlet than Mannini. They seem to have gone under the radar

anony on April 28, 2010 at 6:11 am

Guberti has been coming off for Mannini after the first half for at least 3 weeks now, it is part of Sampdoria’s game plan, not exactly a fantastically construed tactical substitution.

Sacchian on April 26, 2010 at 8:18 pm

Just wondering what the site’s thoughts are on Andrea Poli. Not seen much of him myself, but have heard he’s a potential heir to Pirlo, and Football Manager seems to agree.

Thanks

Panenka on April 26, 2010 at 9:30 pm

I got to see a lot of him last season at Sassuolo in Serie B and he looks like he’s going to be a classy player. I’d actually liken him more to Cesc – both stylistically (albeit with a bit more individual skill) and attitude-wise. He always wants the ball and never hides. Which made him become an immediate fans favourite at Sassuolo despite being on loan.

The good thing about the ’seniority dictates’ aspect of Serie A means that when a young player does breakthrough – they are usually of a very high quality – as they simply have to be e.g Balotelli, Jovetic, Hernandez, Santon etc. And Poli is no different.

Pirlo’s heir has always een said to be Cigarini at Napoli, unfortunately he’s not featured too much this season from the start as it’s difficult to play him in a ‘2′ in the middle of the park – and Mazzarri prefers Pazienza and Gargano to do the donkey work for Hamsik

Santo on April 26, 2010 at 8:51 pm

Wondering what ZM’s thoughts are in regards DDR play in this game. Although, I am a huge fan of de Rossi, of his energy and “grinta” and his absolute passion for his hometown club,however, it seems he really lets his emotions get the best of him during the course of many matches. I think the comment directed towards Perrotta “losing the ball” in 2nd half, could be more accurately directed at DDR. As match wore on he was “lumping the ball” trying speculative passes and/or shots, and often times seemed to be competing for “prima punta” space in the penalty area. He certainly seemed less available in 2nd half to provide an outlet for Pizzaro as well.

Tactically, I wonder if DDR has license from Ranieri to switch roles with Perrotta, each with license to make runs into the box, so long as the other is covering. Does that seem possible- or is the erratic positioning of DDR a result of indiscipline, not a pre-conceived authorized license from Ranieri? Be interesting to track his match positioning not only in this match but in many matches where Roma loses the script.

jensen on April 26, 2010 at 10:08 pm

“Samp also played a surprisingly high offside line – this played into the hands of Vucinic”

I didn’t see it as surprising as Del Neri’s sides have always played with a high line, regardless of the opposition.

The biggest criticism of him is that he is actually a little one dimensional tatically – the blueprint is a 4-4-2 with a high line, lots of hard work without the ball, two wide men and a second striker playing off a bigger man. See Chievo under Del Neri

GKPC on May 3, 2010 at 9:21 pm

Hey ZM,

You claim that the 2nd Samp goal was because Taddei got too far up the field. Fair point but if you look at the replay there are still 3 defenders back to cover the 3 attackers. Why should Taddei’s wanderings be responsible when it looks as if the defender simply didn’t stay between the ball and his man?